After its expulsion from Thebes, Sparta had steadily lost ground in central Greece. The Thebans energetically centralized Boeotia under their own leadership; for instance, they gained control of Thespiae and—yet again—of the unfortunate Plataea, which must have been resettled at some point, or perhaps just gradually, after the Peloponnesian War. In addition, a new power arose in Thessaly, that of Jason of Pherae, an ally of Thebes and until his assassination in 370 a military despot on the Dionysius model. Sparta was unable to respond to local Thessalian appeals against Jason, proof that Spartan ambition in central Greece ... (100 of 69,043 words)